Boom assembly for construction machines

ABSTRACT

A boom assembly for a construction machine is disclosed. The boom assembly may have a first side barrier and a second side barrier spaced apart from each other. The first and second side barriers may have a first pin receiving groove and a second pin receiving groove, respectively. The boom assembly may have a boom including a pin receiving bore. The boom assembly may also have a boom mounting pin extending through the pin receiving bore, the first pin receiving groove, and the second pin receiving groove. Further, the boom assembly may have a first mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at the first pin receiving groove and being removably attached to the first side barrier. In addition, the boom assembly may have a second mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and being removably attached to the second side barrier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a boom assembly of aconstruction machine and to a method of mounting a boom to aconstruction machine.

BACKGROUND

Construction machines, such as wheeled or crawler excavators, wheelloaders, backhoes, or the like, may be provided with a boom and a stickfor accommodating a work tool, such as a bucket, for executing specificoperations.

It is common to operably mount the boom to the construction machine viaa boom mounting pin extending through corresponding bores at the chassisof the construction machine and the boom.

US 2006/0275074 A1 discloses a linkage pin including a mechanicaldeformation to form a joint, wherein the components are arranged in aparticular orientation to provide optimum durability.

A loader attachment pivot pin assembly is known from U.S. Pat. No.6,694,571 B2. The pivot pin assembly is formed by providing acylindrical pin portion with a boss at one end, which has a flatshoulder surface, so that its periphery is non-circular.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,673 A discloses a pivot joint assembly that mounts afirst member to a second member for relative rotation therebetween. Thefirst member is positioned between a pair of brackets defined by thesecond member and both members define a plurality of bores aligned oncommon axis.

The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving orovercoming one or more aspects of prior systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assembly for aconstruction machine may comprise a first side barrier including a firstpin receiving groove, and a second side barrier being spaced apart thefirst side barrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween.The second side barrier includes a second pin receiving groove. A boommay include a pin receiving bore and may be disposed within the boommounting portion, such that the pin receiving bore may be aligned withthe first pin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove. Aboom mounting pin may extend through the pin receiving bore, the firstpin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove. A firstmounting member may be mounted on the boom mounting pin at the first pinreceiving groove and may be removably attached to the first sidebarrier, and a second mounting member may be mounted on the boommounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and may be removablyattached to the second side barrier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method forassembling a boom assembly is disclosed. The boom assembly may comprisea first side barrier including a first pin receiving groove and a secondside barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier for defining aboom mounting portion therebetween, wherein the second side barrier mayinclude a second pin receiving groove aligned with the first pinreceiving groove. The exemplary disclosed method may comprise insertinga boom mounting pin into a pin receiving bore of a boom, such that theboom mounting pin at least partially protrudes out of the pin receivingbore on both sides, positioning the boom within the boom mountingportion, such that the boom mounting pin is at least partiallyaccommodated by the first pin receiving groove and at least partially bythe second pin receiving groove. The method may further comprisemounting a first mounting member on the boom mounting pin at the firstpin receiving groove and removably attaching the first mounting memberto the first side barrier, and mounting a second mounting member on theboom mounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and removablyattaching the second mounting member to the second side barrier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assemblymay comprise a first side barrier, a second side barrier being spacedapart the first side barrier for defining a boom mounting portiontherebetween, a boom comprising a pin receiving bore and being disposedwithin the boom mounting portion, a boom mounting pin extending throughthe pin receiving bore and configured to at least partially protrude outof the pin receiving bore on both sides, a first mounting member mountedon the boom mounting pin at a first protruding side, and a secondmounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at a second protrudingside opposite to the first protruding side. The first mounting membermay be removably attached to the first side barrier and the secondmounting member may be removably attached to the second side barrier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assemblymay comprise, a first side barrier including a first pin receiving bore,a second side barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier fordefining a boom mounting portion therebetween and including a second pinreceiving bore aligned with the first pin receiving bore, a boomdisposed within the boom mounting portion and comprising a boomreceiving groove aligned with the first pin receiving bore and thesecond pin receiving bore, a boom mounting pin extending through thefirst pin receiving bore, the second pin receiving bore and the pinreceiving groove, and a boom mounting member mounted on the boommounting pin at the pin receiving groove and removably attached to theboom.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a superstructureof a construction machine may comprise a boom assembly according to thepresent disclosure.

In some embodiments, the second mounting member may be integrally formedwith the second side barrier at the second pin receiving groove, therebyforming a pin receiving bore. In such embodiments, the boom mounting pinmay extend through the first mounting groove, the pin receiving bore ofthe boom, and the pin receiving bore of the second side barrier.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a construction machine comprising a boom;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the construction machine of FIG. 1 without theboom;

FIG. 3 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a secondembodiment;

FIG. 5 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a fourthembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a boom mounting pin; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a boom mountingpin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The exemplary embodiments described therein andillustrated in the drawings are intended to teach the principles of thepresent disclosure, enabling those of ordinary skill in the art toimplement and use the present disclosure in many different environmentsand for many different applications. Therefore, the exemplaryembodiments are not intended to be, and should not be considered as, alimiting description of the scope of protection. Rather, the scope ofpatent protection shall be defined by the appended claims.

The present disclosure may be based in part on the realization thatinserting a boom mounting pin into a boom and, subsequently, disposingthe boom with the pre-assembled boom mounting pin into a boom mountingportion of a construction machine, which provides corresponding pinreceiving grooves may facilitate attachment of the boom to theconstruction machine. Particularly, alignments of the pin receiving boreat the boom and the pin receiving bores at the chassis of theconstruction machine may at least partially disappear.

Referring to FIG. 1, a construction machine 10 as, for example, awheeled excavator is shown. The construction machine 10 includes a powersource, such as an internal combustion engine 12. The constructionmachine 10 further includes a superstructure 14 which is rotatablyattached to an undercarriage 16 via a swivel 15. Alternatively, thesuperstructure 14 may be fixedly mounted onto the undercarriage 16 or inany suitable fashion or configuration.

The construction machine 10 also includes a traction system 18, forinstance a plurality set of wheels 24, 26, which is operably attached tothe undercarriage 16. At least one set of wheels may be steerable.

While the traction system 18 has been shown to include wheels, thepresent disclosure may also apply to construction machines or vehicleswith one or more endless tracks and/or belts, or any other type oftraction device. In addition, the present disclosure may apply tosteering systems that vary a steering angle of one or more tractiondevices, as well as skid steer, and differential steering systems.Further, these systems may each apply to work machines with a variety oftypes of tracks and devices. For example, while track work machines arecommonly configured with skid-steer or differential steering systems,they may automatically or additionally be configured with steeringsystems that vary a steering angle of one or more tracks. Similarly,wheeled work machines or vehicles may steer with a variable steeringangle system, skid-steer, and/or differential steering systems.

The construction machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 as a wheeled excavator maybe any type of work machine with operator-controlled steering andtravelling. For example, the construction machine 10 may include wheelloaders, motor graders, backhoe loaders, skid steers, track-typetractors, tracked excavators, material handlers, cranes, and any othertype of work machine with operator-controlled steering and travelling.

In some embodiments, the construction machine 10 may include acab-raiser function, by which the operator station 14 may be raised andlowered relative to the undercarriage 16. Alternatively or additionally,the cab-raiser function may cause the operator station 22 to be raisedand lowered relative to the superstructure 14. The cab-raiser functionmay be hydraulically actuated.

The construction machine 10 further includes a work implement 20 and anoperator station 22 from which the work implement 20 is controlled. Thework implement 20 may be any type of work implement and may include anytype of work tool, such as, for instance, a bucket, blade, grapple,jackhammer, shears, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the work implement 20 includes a boom 28, a stick30, and a work tool 32 attached to the end of the stick 30. The boom 28is pivotably attached to the superstructure 14. At least one boomactuator 34 is attached to the superstructure 14 and the boom 28, suchthat a distal end 36 of the boom 28 is raised and lowered by actuationof the boom actuator 34.

The distal end 36 of the boom 28 is also moved side-to-side. In theexemplary embodiment shown, the boom 28 is moved side-to-side byrotation of the superstructure 14 relative to the undercarriage 16 aboutan axis 38 in a direction indicated by an arrow 40. The constructionmachine 10 may also include an offset boom function by which the boom 28may be pivoted side-to-side relative to the superstructure 14.

The stick 30 is pivotally attached to the boom 28 at a proximal end 42.A stick actuator 44 is attached to the boom 28 and the stick 30 suchthat actuation of the stick actuator 44 causes the stick 30 to extendand retract with respect to the boom 28 in a manner of a jackknife. Thatis, a distal end 46 of the stick 30 is extended further away from theundercarriage 12, and retracts closer to the undercarriage 16 byactuating the stick actuator 44.

The work tool 32 is attached to the distal end 46 of the stick 30. Whilethe work tool 32 has been illustrated in FIG. 1 as a bucket 48, the worktool 32 may be any type of work tool. The work tool 32 is pivotablyattached to the distal end 46 of the stick 30. A work tool pivotactuator 50 is attached to the stick 30 and the work tool 32 such thatactuation of the work tool pivot actuator 50 causes the work tool 32 topivot relative to the stick 30.

The boom actuator 34, the stick actuator 44, and the work tool pivotactuator 50 may be any kind of actuators, such as, for instance,hydraulic cylinders as shown in FIG. 1. Each hydraulic cylinder may beassociated with its own hydraulic circuit in order to be independentlycontrolled. Some work tools, such as the bucket 48, may have a singleactuator, and thus may be controlled by a single hydraulic circuit.Other type of work tools, such as grapple may include more than oneactuator, and thus may be controlled by more than one hydraulic circuit.For example, grapple may be controlled by two or more hydrauliccircuits. One circuit may control the work tool pivot actuator 50, whichmay pivot the grapple in the same manner as it does the bucket 48.Additionally, a second circuit may control an auxiliary function, suchas rotation of the grapple.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of the construction machine 10 ofFIG. 1 is illustrated. Specifically, a top view of the superstructure 14without an attached boom is shown. The operator station 22 is depictedfrom which the operator is able to control operation of the constructionmachine 10.

The construction machine 10 is provided with a boom mounting portion 60configured to receive the boom (not explicitly shown in FIG. 2) and toprovide space for moving the boom relative to the superstructure 14.

The superstructure 14 may comprise a base frame including a first sidebarrier 70 and a second side barrier 80 for accommodating the boom 28and the at least one boom actuator 34 (see FIG. 1). As indicated indotted lines, the first and second side barriers 70, 80 may extend fromthe backside of the construction machine 10 to the front side.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first side barrier 70 comprises apin receiving groove 72, and the second side barrier 80 comprises a pinreceiving bore 82 indicated by dotted lines. The pin receiving groove 72and the barrier bore 82 are aligned to each other (indicated by an axis62) and configured to accommodate a boom mounting pin 94 (see, forexample, FIG. 3) for mounting the boom 28 to the base frame of thesuperstructure 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, an explosion view of a first embodiment of a boomassembly 90 is illustrated. The first side barrier 70 provides twomounting surfaces 73, 74 configured to receive a mounting member 78.Particularly, each of the two mounting surfaces 73, 74 comprise at leastone bore 75, 76 configured to receive, for example, screws configured toremovably attach the mounting member 78 to the first side barrier 70.Therefore, the mounting member 78 comprises at least two holescorresponding to the at least two bores 75, 76.

In some embodiments, the mounting member 78 may be fixedly attached tothe first side barrier 70 by means of, for instance, welding, soldering,riveting, adhering, or any other suitable means known in the art.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the mounting member 78 may also comprise apin receiving groove 79 corresponding to the pin receiving groove 72 ofthe first side barrier 70. It is to be understood that the pin receivinggroove 72 and the pin receiving groove 79 together form a cylindricalopening for accommodating a boom mounting pin 94.

The boom 28 comprises a pin receiving bore 92 at its end at which theboom 92 is mounted to the superstructure 14 (see FIG. 1). The pinreceiving bore 92 is configured to receive the boom mounting pin 94 viaan axis 64. The pin receiving bore 92 may comprise a diametersubstantially corresponding to the diameter of the boom mounting pin 94.

The boom mounting pin 94 is further configured to be disposed within thepin receiving groove 72 and the pin receiving bore 82, which will beexplained in greater detail below. The boom mounting pin 94 comprises alength of at least the distance between the first side barrier 70 andthe second side barrier 80. Preferably, the boom mounting pin 94comprises a length, such that the boom mounting pin 94 extends from thepin receiving groove 72 across the boom mounting portion 60 into the pinreceiving bore 82.

Referring to FIG. 4, an explosion view of a second embodiment of theboom assembly 90 is illustrated. The first side barrier 170 of thesecond embodiment is identical to the first side barrier 70 of the firstembodiment. The elements of the first side member 170 are denoted by thesame reference signs as the first side barrier 70, but having a prefixed“1”.

According to the second embodiment, the second side barrier 180 issimilar to the first side barrier 170, such that the second side barrier180 comprises two mounting surfaces 183,184 configured to receive amounting member 188. Particularly, each of the two mounting surfaces183, 184 comprise at least one bore 185, 186 configured to receive, forexample, screws configured to removably attach the mounting member 188to the second side barrier 180.

Referring to FIG. 5, an explosion view of a third embodiment of a boomassembly 90 is illustrated. According to the third embodiment, the firstside barrier 270 comprises a first bore 275 and a second bore 276. Thefirst and second bores 275, 276 are configured to receive, for example,screws configured to fixedly attach the mounting member 278 to the firstside barrier 270. The second side barrier 280 comprises a first bore 285and a second bore 286. The first and second bores 285, 286 areconfigured to receive, for example, screws configured to removablyattach the mounting member 288 to the first side barrier 280.

Each of the mounting members 278, 288 include one pin receiving bore272, 282, respectively. The pin receiving bores 272, 282 are aligned toeach other (indicated by the axis 62) and configured to be mounted onthe boom mounting pin 94.

Referring to FIG. 6, an explosion view of a fourth embodiment of a boomassembly 190 is illustrated. The second side barrier 380 is identical tothe second side barrier 80 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3.Thus, the elements of the second side member 380 are denoted by the samereference signs as the second side barrier 80, but having a prefixed“3”.

According to the fourth embodiment, the first side barrier 370 comprisesa barrier bore 372 configured to be aligned with the pin receiving bore382 of the second side barrier 380 (indicated by the axis 62) and toreceive the boom mounting pin 94.

The boom 328 of the fourth embodiment comprises a pin receiving groove192 configured to accommodate the boom mounting pin 94. A boom mountingmember 395 comprising a pin receiving groove 393 corresponding to thepin receiving groove 192 is configured to be mounted on the boommounting pin 94 and to be removably attached to the boom 328 by, forexample, four screws received by corresponding bores 396, 397, 398, and399. In some embodiments, the boom mounting member 395 may be removablyattached to the boom 328 via more or less than four screws. In someother embodiments, the boom mounting member 395 may be fixedly attachedto the boom 328 by means of, for instance, welding, soldering, riveting,adhering, or any other suitable means known in the art

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the boom mounting pin 94 comprises acylindrical shape corresponding to the shapes of the respective pinreceiving grooves and the pin receiving bores at the side barriers, themounting members, and/or the boom. In some embodiments, a bearingbushing (not shown) may be disposed between the boom mounting pin 94 andthe pin receiving bore 92 at the boom 28 for providing rotationalmovement of the boom 28 relative to the boom mounting pin 94.

Referring to FIG. 7, a further embodiment of the boom mounting pin 194is illustrated. The boom mounting pin 194 comprises a cylindricalportion 195 and a flat portion 195. The flat portion 195 is configuredto, after assembling the boom 28 to the side barriers, restrict the boommounting pin 194 from rotating during movement of the boom 28.Therefore, the respective pin receiving grooves and pin receiving boresat the side barriers, the mounting members, and/or the boom may alsocomprise a flat portion for completely corresponding to the shape of theboom mounting pin 194, such that the boom mounting pin 194 is fixedlysecured to the side barriers.

With respect to FIG. 8, a further embodiment of a boom mounting pin 294is depicted. The boom mounting pin 294 comprises a first section 295having a first diameter, a second section 296 having a second diameter,and a third section 297 having a third diameter. The first diameter andthe third diameter may be equal, wherein the second diameter may belarger than the first and third diameters. Thus, the boom mounting pin294 of FIG. 9 is provided in a stepped shape.

The first and third sections 295, 297 comprise a length corresponding tothe length of the pin receiving grooves and/or the pin receiving bores,wherein the second section 296 comprises a length substantiallycorresponding to the distance between the first and second sidebarriers.

In some embodiments, the boom mounting pin 294 may only comprise thefirst section 295 and the second section 296 having unequal diameters.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the following, exemplary embodiments of methods for mounting a boomto a construction machine, such as a wheeled excavator, may be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

A first embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to a chassis of a constructionmachine, such as the first and second side barriers 70, 80, is describedwith reference to FIG. 3. In a first assembling step, the boom mountingpin 94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28, suchthat one end face of the boom mounting pin 94 is planar with one endside face of the boom 28 facing the pin receiving bore 82 of the secondside barrier 80. Thus, the boom mounting pin 94 at least partiallyprotrudes out of the pin receiving bore 92 at a side facing the pinreceiving groove 72. Subsequently, the boom 28 is positioned within theboom mounting portion 60, such that the at least partially protrudingboom mounting pin is accommodated within the pin receiving groove 72 andsuch that the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28 is aligned with thepin receiving bore 82 of the second side barrier 80.

Next, the boom mounting pin 94 is slid into the pin receiving bore 82from the protruding side of the boom mounting pin 94, such that the boommounting pin 94 is at least partially arranged within the pin receivinggroove 72 and at least partially within the pin receiving bore 82. Insome embodiments, at least one cotter-pin (not shown in the drawings)may be employed for preventing the boom mounting pin from leaving thepin receiving groove 72 and the pin receiving bore 82.

In a final step, the mounting member 78 is mounted on the boom mountingpin 94 at the pin receiving groove 72 and is removably attached to themounting surfaces 73, 74 via, for instance, two screws. For example, forensuring a rigid attachment of the boom 28 to the construction machine10, the screws may have a size of M36 or larger.

With respect to FIG. 4, a second embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to achassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second sidebarriers 170, 180, is described. First, the boom mounting pin 94 isinserted into the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28, such that theboom mounting pin 94 protrudes at least partially out of both sides ofthe pin receiving bore 92.

Subsequently, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting portion60, such that both protruding ends of the boom mounting pin 92 areaccommodated within both pin receiving grooves 172, 182. Then, in afinal step, the mounting members 178, 188 are mounted on the boommounting pin 94 at the pin receiving grooves 172, 182, respectively, andare removably attached to the mounting surfaces 73, 74 and 183, 784,respectively, via screws.

With respect to FIG. 5, a third embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to achassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second sidebarriers 270, 280, is explained. First, the boom mounting pin 94 isinserted into the pin receiving bore 92, such that the boom mounting pin94 protrudes at least partially out of the pin receiving bore 92 on bothsides.

Subsequently, the two mounting members 278, 288 are mounted on the boommounting pin 92 at both protruding ends of the boom mounting pin 94,i.e. the boom mounting pin 94 is further accommodated within the pinreceiving bores 272, 282.

Then, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting portion 60,such that the attaching bores of the mounting members 278, 288 arealigned with the bores 275, 276 and 285, 286 of the respective sidebarriers 270, 280. In a final step, the two mounting members 272, 282are secured to the side barriers 270, 280 via, for instance, respectivescrews.

A fourth embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to a chassis of aconstruction machine, such as the first and second side barriers 370,380, is described with respect to FIG. 6. First, the boom mounting pin94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 372 of the first side barrier370 and into the pin receiving bore 382 of the second side barrier 380.Then, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting portion 60,such that the pin receiving groove 192 of the boom is mounted on theboom mounting pin 94. Then, the boom mounting member 395 is alsodisposed within the boom mounting portion 60, such that the pinreceiving groove 393 is also mounted on the boom mounting pin 94 at aside opposite to the side where the pin receiving groove 92 is mounted.In a final step, the boom mounting member 395 is removably attached tothe boom 28 via, for example, screws.

In the embodiments described above, screws having a size of M36 orlarger may be employed for mounting the boom to the chassis of theconstruction machine.

It is stated, that the above described methods for mounting a boom to aconstruction machine are not limited to a construction machine having atleast two side barriers. In some embodiments, the two side barriers maybe integrally formed with the chassis of the superstructure or thechassis of the construction machine. Thus, any described pin receivinggrooves and pin receiving bores may be also disposed at the chassis ofthe construction machine, such that mounting a boom to the constructionmachine is still facilitated.

Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been describedherein, improvements and modifications may be incorporated withoutdeparting from the scope of the following claims.

1. A boom assembly for a construction machine, comprising: a first sidebarrier including a first pin receiving groove; a second side barrierbeing spaced apart from the first side barrier for defining a boommounting portion therebetween and including a second pin receivinggroove; a boom including a pin receiving bore and being disposed withinthe boom mounting portion, the pin receiving bore being aligned with thefirst pin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove; a boommounting pin extending through the pin receiving bore, the first pinreceiving groove, and the second pin receiving groove; a first mountingmember mounted on the boom mounting pin at the first pin receivinggroove and being removably attached to the first side barrier; and asecond mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at the secondpin receiving groove and being removably attached to the second sidebarrier.
 2. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the second mountingmember is integrally formed with the second side barrier at the secondpin receiving groove, thereby forming a pin receiving bore.
 3. The boomassembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mounting memberand the second mounting member includes a groove corresponding to theshape of the boom mounting pin.
 4. The boom assembly of claim 1, whereinthe boom mounting pin includes a flat portion on at least at one endportion.
 5. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the boom mounting pinincludes a first end portion having a first diameter and a second endportion opposite to the first end and having a second diameter, thefirst diameter being unequal to the second diameter.
 6. The boomassembly of claim 1, wherein the boom mounting pin includes a first endportion having a first diameter, a second end portion opposite to thefirst end portion and having the first diameter, and an intermediateportion having a third diameter, the first diameter being unequal to thethird diameter.
 7. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first mounting member and the second mounting member is removablyattached to the first side barrier and the second side barrier by atleast one screw.
 8. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the boomincludes a width substantially corresponding to the boom mountingportion.
 9. A superstructure of a construction machine, comprising: afirst side barrier including a first in receiving groove; a second sidebarrier being spaced apart from the first side barrier for defining aboom mounting portion therebetween and including a second in receivinggroove; a boom including a in receiving bore and being disposed withinthe boom mounting portion, the in receiving bore being aligned with thefirst in receiving groove and the second in receiving groove; a boommounting in extending through the in receiving bore, the first inreceiving groove, and the second in receiving groove; a first mountingmember mounted on the boom mounting pin at the first pin receivinggroove and being removably attached to the first side barrier; and asecond mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at the secondpin receiving groove and being removably attached to the second sidebarrier.
 10. The superstructure of claim 9, further comprising at leastone boom actuator configured to raise or lower the boom.
 11. Thesuperstructure of claim 10, wherein one end of the at least one boomactuator is attached to either the first side barrier or the second sidebarrier and the other end of the at least one boom actuator is attachedto the boom.
 12. A method for assembling a boom assembly, the boomassembly comprising a first side barrier including a first pin receivinggroove and a second side barrier being spaced apart from the first sidebarrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween, the secondside barrier including a second pin receiving groove aligned with thefirst pin receiving groove, the method comprising: inserting a boommounting pin into a pin receiving bore of a boom, such that the boommounting pin at least partially protrudes out of the pin receiving boreon both sides; positioning the boom within the boom mounting portion,such that the boom mounting pin is at least partially accommodated bythe first pin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove;mounting a first mounting member on the boom mounting pin at the firstpin receiving groove and removably attaching the first mounting memberto the first side barrier; and mounting a second mounting member on theboom mounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and removablyattaching the second mounting member to the second side barrier.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the second mounting member is integrallyformed with the second side barrier thereby forming a pin receivingbore, the method further comprising: sliding the boom mounting pin intothe barrier bore.
 14. A boom assembly comprising: a first side barrier;a second side barrier being spaced apart from the first side barrier,the first side barrier and the second side barrier defining a boommounting portion therebetween; a boom comprising a pin receiving boreand being disposed within the boom mounting portion, a boom mounting pinextending through the pin receiving bore and configured to at leastpartially protrude out of the pin receiving bore on both sides; a firstmounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at a first protrudingside, the first mounting member being removably attached to the firstside barrier; and a second mounting member mounted on the boom mountingpin at a second protruding side opposite to the first protruding side,the second mounting member being removably attached to the second sidebarrier.
 15. A boom assembly, comprising: a first side barrier includinga first pin receiving bore; a second side barrier being spaced apartfrom the first side barrier, the first side barrier and the second sidebarrier defining a boom mounting portion therebetween, the second sidebarrier including a second pin receiving bore aligned with the first pinreceiving bore; a boom disposed within the boom mounting portion andcomprising a boom receiving groove aligned with the first pin receivingbore and the second pin receiving bore; a boom mounting pin extendingthrough the first pin receiving bore, the second pin receiving bore andthe pin receiving groove; and a boom mounting member mounted on the boommounting pin at the pin receiving groove and removably attached to theboom.
 16. The boom assembly of claim 14, wherein the boom mounting pinincludes a flat portion on at least at one of its end portions.
 17. Theboom assembly of claim 14, wherein the boom mounting pin includes afirst end portion having a first diameter and a second end portionopposite to the first end having a second diameter, the first diameterbeing unequal to the second diameter.
 18. The boom assembly of claim 14,wherein the boom mounting pin includes a first end portion having afirst diameter, a second end portion opposite to the first end portionand having the first diameter, and an intermediate portion having athird diameter, the first diameter being unequal to the third diameter.19. The boom assembly of claim 15, wherein the boom mounting pinincludes a flat portion on at least at one of its end portions.
 20. Theboom assembly of claim 15, wherein the boom mounting pin includes afirst end portion having a first diameter, a second end portion oppositeto the first end portion having the first diameter, and an intermediateportion having a third diameter, the first diameter being unequal to thethird diameter.